The 2021 Realm The Bard is a proprietary red blend hailing from Napa, California, produced by Realm. This wine is a robust mix of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Petite Sirah. It is characterized by its deep garnet-purple color and an alcohol content of 14.6%.
The Wine Independent awarded this wine a score of 97, describing it as having "vibrant notions of crushed black currants, red currant jelly, black raspberries, and pencil shavings." The palate is firm with ripe, fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone, finishing with great length and a "real skip in its step" (The Wine Independent, 9/7/2023).
Jeb Dunnuck rated The Bard even higher, with a score of 98, noting its "killer bouquet of cassis, spring flowers, graphite, chalky minerality, and violets." He praised its full-bodied, seamless, and silky nature, highlighting the wine's fine tannins, good sense of freshness, and thrilling finish (Jeb Dunnuck, 12/26/2023).
Vinous also provided a favorable review, scoring it 95. Antonio Galloni described the wine as "rich, ample and beautifully resonant," with flavors of dark red cherry/plum fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice, spice, menthol, and pipe tobacco. He emphasized its full-bodied and voluptuous nature, noting its flavor intensity and vibrancy (Vinous, 12/21/2023).
James Suckling gave The Bard a score of 97, complimenting the "purity of fruit" and the wine's "blackcurrants, bark and black mushrooms" notes. He highlighted its full-bodied yet light-footed freshness and integrated tannins, which melt into the wine, providing "real transparency and focus" (James Suckling, 11/30/2023).
Decanter also rated this wine 97, selecting it as one of the top 10 wines of 2023. The reviewer noted its "red-toned fruits and rich, toasty oak spices," complemented by bay laurel and pastis. The wine's full-bodied nature, chocolaty tannins, and rich finish were particularly praised (Decanter, 12/8/2023).
Overall, the 2021 Realm The Bard is celebrated for its complexity, balance, and potential for aging, making it a standout wine from Napa Valley.